title: Atomistic structure of monomolecular surface layer self-assemblies: toward functionalized nanostructures.
abstract: The concept of self-assembly is one of the most promising strategies for the creation of defined nanostructures and therefore became an essential part of nanotechnology for the controlled bottom-up design of nanoscale structures. Surface layers (S-layers), which represent the cell envelope of a great variety of prokaryotic cells, show outstanding self-assembly features in vitro and have been successfully used as the basic matrix for molecular construction kits. Here we present the three-dimensional structure of an S-layer lattice based on tetrameric unit cells, which will help to facilitate the directed binding of various molecules on the S-layer lattice, thereby creating functional nanoarrays for applications in nanobiotechnology. Our work demonstrates the successful combination of computer simulations, electron microscopy (TEM), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as a tool for the investigation of the structure of self-assembling or aggregating proteins, which cannot be determined by X-ray crystallography. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first structural model at an amino acid level of an S-layer unit cell that exhibits p4 lattice symmetry.
authors.affiliation: Department for Nanobiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Horejs
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gollner
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pum
authors.forename: Uwe B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Sleytr
authors.forename: Herwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peterlik
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jungbauer
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tscheliessnig
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins